Doctors from Dr Rajinder Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda, UP on 2nd April held a protest campaigning against the National Medical Commission Bill.

Doctors of Dr Rajinder Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, aligned with different medical associations under the banner of Indian Medical Association (IMA) held a protest rally on 2^nd April within the campus and outside the Central library of the college against the National Medical Commission Bill, 2017.

The silent protest was held within the campus and the protest march was held from the Central Library to the Principal’s office for submission of a memorandum against the national Medical Commission Bill. The silent protest was joined by hundreds of the doctors belonging to Teachers Association of Medical College Tanda (TAMCOT), Resident Doctors Association (RDA) and members of the Students Central Association (SCA) gathered at the Central library and were addressed by the leaders of different organisations, who were critical against National Medical Commission Bill.

They rejected the formation of the NMC Bill and demanded that the government understand the sentiment of the medical fraternity and take the decision in right perspective to withdraw it. Those who addressed the gathering were Dr Atul Mahajan, President, IMA Dharamshala, Dr Amit Gupta, State General Secretary, IMA Himachal Pradesh, Dr RK Abrol, Secretary TAMCOT, Dr Girish Sharma, President RDA and Tanzin President SCA. Last month also, doctors took out a protest march in DRPGMC Tanda against the Bill.

The Bill, which seeks to replace and subsume the Medical Council of India (MCI) with a new body, was tabled in the Rajya Sabha in January by Union Health Minister J P Nadda. According to the bill, practitioners of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, can practice modern medicine once they complete a short-term "bridge" course. The Bill is also aimed at bringing reforms in the medical education sector which has been under scrutiny for corruption and unethical practices. However, the protesting doctors of IMA here have termed the bill as "draconian, unconstitutional and undemocratic" and called for its withdrawal.